Hadwin's Judgment

Valorized with great skill and insight by John Vaillant in his Governor General’s Award–winning book The Golden Spruce, Grant Hadwin’s story now becomes a powerful non-fiction film. 　　Hadwin was a BC boy born and bred. He loved the forest, lived for the great outdoors, so naturally he looked for employment that allowed him free rein and access to it. And naturally, in days like these, that meant working for the timber industry. Grant’s expertise and facility initially found favour, and he was trusted to scout the backwoods and chart out the most likely logging roads. Of course it was only a matter of time before he realized he was inextricably implicated in the destruction of the very thing he loved. As his efforts to steer the industry towards a more sustainable approach fell on deaf ears disillusionment set in. He dropped out. Agitated for change. And eventually, fatefully, he became an eco-terrorist, committing what for many remains an unforgivable act… 　　Artfully reconstructing Hadwin’s physical, spiritual and political journey, Sasha Stone reminds us how much is at stake here, in our own backyard. With commentary from John Vaillant as well as from people who knew Hadwin personally, this is a balanced and fair-minded account of a highly controversial figure, but nevertheless a movie that presses the case for greater oversight and environmental awareness.